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MINISTRY TEAM
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MEET OUR MINISTRY STAFF
Pastor Geoff Schultz has been the senior pastor at Friends Church since 1995. His passion is to make Jesus Christ attractive to others. He often reminds the church that “this church was not built for those who are in it, but for those who aren’t in it yet!”
Pastor Geoff grew up in Richwood, Ohio. He attended Asbury College and received his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. In 2012, he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.
Under his leadership, NOEFC has seen steady growth. What excites him most, though, is what God has in store for the church in the future. Geoff and his wife, Mary, have four children: Caleb, Joshua, Micah and Faith. In his spare time, Geoff loves playing video games with his kids, working in his yard and watching Ohio State football games. Although an avid Buckeye fan, he still welcomes any fans from up north to come and worship.
Pastor Rich has been involved in pastoral ministry for more than 40 years, serving churches in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Ohio. The last 15 years, Rich has served on staff at North Olmsted Friends.
Having grown up in the church, Rich accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord at the age of 12. The Lord planted a call to pastoral ministry in his life at the age of 16. Rich’s personal mission is to be increasingly transformed into the likeness of Christ for the sake of others by pursuing: a spiritual life and walk with Jesus, a lifestyle of healthy choices, the blessing of life-giving relationships and a ministry of helping others find freedom and the fullness of life in Christ. He fulfills this calling by leading the Care Ministries of the church, visitations and connections and through chaplaincy to the first responders of North Olmsted. He serves on the Board of LIFT Cleveland, the Core Team of Sleep in Heavenly Peace in W Cuyahoga, and loves leading teams to Malawi, Africa.
Pastor Rich has been married for over 38 years to Elizabeth. They have six children – Sharon, Isaac, Bobby, Courtney, Kyle and Anna – and nine grandchildren. In his free time, Rich enjoys cycling with Elizabeth, playing golf with friends and games with his family.
Having grown up in the church, Rich accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord at the age of 12. The Lord planted a call to pastoral ministry in his life at the age of 16. Rich’s personal mission is to be increasingly transformed into the likeness of Christ for the sake of others by pursuing: a spiritual life and walk with Jesus, a lifestyle of healthy choices, the blessing of life-giving relationships and a ministry of helping others find freedom and the fullness of life in Christ. He fulfills this calling by leading the Care Ministries of the church, visitations and connections and through chaplaincy to the first responders of North Olmsted. He serves on the Board of LIFT Cleveland, the Core Team of Sleep in Heavenly Peace in W Cuyahoga, and loves leading teams to Malawi, Africa.
Pastor Rich has been married for over 38 years to Elizabeth. They have six children – Sharon, Isaac, Bobby, Courtney, Kyle and Anna – and nine grandchildren. In his free time, Rich enjoys cycling with Elizabeth, playing golf with friends and games with his family.
Pastor Adam was raised in North Olmsted, graduating from North Olmsted High School in 2007. Growing up in a Christian household meant that the presence of God was a constant in his life, but ministry was not necessarily something on his radar. In his last two years of college, he began to truly understand what Christ’s Lordship in his life meant, and he completely embraced being fully surrendered to God’s will. Adam heard God’s call in 2012, and began serving in full-time ministry in 2013.
Adam and his wife, Sarah, were married in May 2015, and they both share a passion to lead people to Christ and to raise up the next generation of leaders in the Church. They have 2 children, Gwendolynn and Rowan.
Adam’s tenure at NOEFC began in 2016 in a pastoral role over the Children’s Ministry. After sensing and discerning a new call, he began serving as the Pastor of Adult Discipleship in 2024. He also serves as one of the chaplains for the North Olmsted Police, Fire, and Service Departments alongside Pastor Rich.
Pastor Adrianne grew up in Berea, Ohio, and has been serving at North Olmsted Friends Church since 2017. She attended Malone University in Canton, Ohio, where she studied Youth Ministry and Bible & Theology. From the age of 16, Adrianne knew that working with teens in the church was where God was calling her.
Outside of ministry, she is a music enthusiast. Though she admits musical talents are not where her gifts lie, she does enjoy playing the guitar, violin and ukulele. Additionally, she loves to read theology books and ride roller coasters, though likely not at the same time.
If you see Adrianne around, feel free to stop and introduce yourself; she would love to meet you!
Pastor David is passionate about exploring and teaching God’s Word and helping others to grow in their relationship with God. With responsibilities for our new campus at Elyria Friends and adult discipleship opportunities at both locations, he seeks to equip the church to love people to life in Jesus Christ.
David and his family have been attending North Olmsted Friends Church since 2013. He followed God’s call into full-time church ministry in 2018, after many years of preparation and nudging by the Holy Spirit. Before joining the staff at Friends Church, David spent a total of 14 years working in higher education public relations and communications. In addition, from 2005 to 2008 David and his wife, Ginger, taught and shared hope with their students in Weinan, Shaanxi Province, China.
A native of Butler, Pa., David earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism from Asbury College and a master’s in Intercultural Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Wheaton College. He and Ginger (who serves as NOEFC’s morning secretary and bookkeeper) have two children, Wilson and Joelle.
Pastor Jason grew up in Orange, Conn., and has a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY.
He has served at various churches in Florida, Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio since 2008. In between and alongside ministry opportunities, he has been a high school music teacher, realtor and Walt Disney World cast member, and he has worked in a few Chick fil-A restaurants.
He has been married to his wife, Melissa, since 2004, and they have two kids: Sadie and Matthew. They live in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Jason is passionate about helping people discover their calling and giving them the tools they need to live it out. He also believes that through worship hearts can be restored, relationships can be renewed and true unity of purpose can be manifested in the church. “God doesnʼt need our worship,” he said, “but WE need to worship Him.”
Stephanie grew up in Mayfield Heights and attended Willoughby Hills Friends Church. After going away to college, she attended Garfield Memorial Church, where she met her husband, Robby, while serving on the worship team together. They married in 2018 and have four children; Charly, Tommy, Juniper, and Violette, with a little one on the way.
Stephanie has a degree in Business Management from Tri-C and is currently pursuing a Practical Ministry Certificate from Malone University. She felt the call to children’s ministry when she and her family first attended the Elyria campus in 2022. “God has placed the discipleship of kids on my heart, Kids are my passion, as they are our future.”
In her spare time Stephanie likes to garden, bake and play trumpet.
